The Cricketer takes a look at the Renegades squad ahead of WBBL08
Coach: Simon Helmot
Captain: Sophie Molineux
Overseas: Harmanpreet Kaur, Shabnim Ismail, Hayley Matthews, Eve Jones (partial replacement for Kaur)
Last season: Second, knocked out in the challenger
How did they do last year?
One of the surprises of last year's competition, Melbourne Renegades will be after more of the same, having finished second in the group stage in 2021, only to fall in the challenger ahead of the final.
Harmanpreet Kaur was arguably the player of the competition, topping the run-scoring stakes and the wicket-taking list for Renegades, and she arrives back in Melbourne in the form of her life after leading India to an ODI series win over England in September. She will need support with the bat this year, though: Renegades' next-highest run-scorers last season were Jemimah Rodrigues and Eve Jones, their other overseas imports, but neither are returning this time around.
Courtney Webb, who made just 144 runs in 10 matches, is their second-highest available run-scorer from the last campaign.
Harmanpreet Kaur adds overseas class to the Melbourne Renegades' batting order [Getty Images]
Who are their key players?
Much rests on the shoulders of Harmanpreet, who is often at her best in such situations but will be looking to the all-round talents of Hayley Matthews to supplement her returns, while Shabnim Ismail is an excellent signing.
An experienced pace attack has been assembled, not just with South African speedster Ismail, but through the arrivals of Georgia Prestwidge from Brisbane Heat and Sarah Coyte from Adelaide Strikers. Coyte is a former Australia international, while captain Sophie Molineux is an excellent allrounder.
What are their biggest strengths?
An excellent tranche of overseas players will go some way to offsetting trouble in their domestic ranks – see below – while Molineux can fulfil multiple roles and will be one of the leading spinners in the competition. Prestwidge and Coyte add quality and experience to the seam attack, which impressed through Ellie Falconer in 2021.
She was the only Renegades seamer to take more than six wickets, which is hardly an approach that will bring sustainable success. Holly Ferling, the former Australia seamer, went wicketless through 12 matches last summer and has moved on to Perth Scorchers.
Ellie Falconer impressed with the ball in 2021 [Getty Images]
Where might they have a weakness?
Quite simply, Renegades look mightily short at the moment. Tayla Vlaeminck, picked up from Hobart Hurricanes, will be an excellent signing at some point, but injury has already ruled her out of this year's tournament. She is considered by many to be the fastest bowler in the women's game, so her absence has at least been semi-offset by the arrival of Ismail. The prospect of watching the duo in action together will have to wait another year, however.
Vlaeminck isn't the only long-term miss for Melbourne, who are also without Georgia Wareham, whose recovery from an ACL injury continues. Her spin-bowling partnership with Molineux is on hold.
Jess Duffin, Renegades' leading Australian batter in 2021, misses this season due to a clash with the AFLW season. She plays Aussie rules football for Hawthorn.
The missing trio has left Helmot and general manager James Rosengarten scrambling for replacements.
Chances of reaching the latter stages?
You'd have to worry about Renegades' chances at present, given the fragility of a squad somewhat decimated by long-term injury in key positions. Much rests on the shoulders of the overseas trio and a beefed-up seam attack for a team that looks light on batting – the loss of Rodrigues to cross-city rivals Melbourne Stars is a bitter blow.
Strongest XI: Josie Dooley, Hayley Matthews, Carly Leeson, Harmanpreet Kaur, Sophie Molineux, Courtney Webb, Rhiann O'Donnell, Shabnim Ismail, Sarah Coyte, Georgia Prestwidge, Ellie Falconer
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